Environmental Archives - Page 3 of 12

Longmont Supply Passage and Stream Restoration

As part the 2013 flood recovery efforts within the St. Vrain Creek watershed, the multi-phase restoration project re-establishes floodplain connectivity, enhances the health of local ecology, and adds resilience to the area’s communities from future flooding. With funding from a disaster relief planning grant, those efforts include the reconfiguration of a reach where creative solutions were necessary to meet numerous objectives and stakeholder needs.

“Threading the Needle” through Constrains to Reconfigure a Reach that Provides A Reliable, Local Water Source and Protects Habitat

Understanding that this would be a complex field-fitting project, the assembled project team was specifically built with an emphasis on flexibility, willingness to compromise, and an ability to brainstorm solutions. An alternatives analysis evaluating various bypass structure design and channel alignments was developed to address a variety of project constraints, including the minimization of water surface rises to avoid a conditional letter of map revision (CLOMR), protecting the existing Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse habitat, and avoiding disturbance to ditches’ ability to divert legally decreed water rights. The final design increases floodplain connectivity while adding low-profile features that complement the natural function and variability of the river, restoring native riparian and aquatic habitat in the process. The resulting passage of native fish and sediment, reduction of flood energy, and improved water quality benefit local communities and ecology alike. Otak coordinated closely with Boulder County Parks & Open Space, along with other stakeholders including ditch representatives, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife, and Department of Water Resources in establishing the final design and overseeing construction activities. The partnership with Boulder County continues with monitoring and adaptive management support.

Charles Dewey Earns Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) Accreditation

We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on Otak’s own Charles Dewey, who recently earned his Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP) certification!

Charles Dewey: A Leader in Resilient Engineering

Charles’ journey with Otak began with our Water Resources Engineering business unit at our Redmond office seven and a half years ago, where he’s played a crucial role in assisting with projects within the Puget Sound region. With multidisciplinary projects under his belt like the Northeast Redevelopment Area (NERA) and Redmond’s NE 40th St Stormwater Trunk Extension and Stormwater Treatment Retrofit, Charles has established himself as an expert in stormwater treatment and retrofits, contributing to the improved surface water quality of the region’s surface waters.

He approaches every project with a holistic view of sustainability that encompasses social wellbeing, environmental preservation and restoration, economic development, and a project’s lifetime resilience to future long-term environmental and economic conditions.

What is Envision?

According to the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, Envision is a framework that helps communities cut greenhouse gas emissions, create good-paying green jobs, address environmental justice, and meet climate-change targets that works much like LEED when it comes to construction of buildings. The key difference between Envision and LEED is Envision applies the framework to a multitude of project types spanning the public infrastructure spectrum, and is becoming increasingly popular when it comes to sustainable and resilient project delivery.

The framework provides a flexible system of criteria and performance objectives to aid decision makers and help project teams identify sustainable, resilient, and equitable approaches. It works at all levels of a project’s lifecycle – during the planning, design, and construction phases.

What is an Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP)?

An ENV SP is essentially an expert in the Envision framework — a professional that has demonstrated their knowledge in making projects sustainable and just from the planning to final delivery stages. Through the credential, Envision recognizes and brings attention to individuals trained and dedicated to developing more sustainable infrastructure.

When asked about his achievement, Charles humbly expressed his happiness and pride. He sees these credentials as a reflection of his passion for creating a greener and more sustainable future. An enthusiasm for continuous learning and personal growth makes him a true asset to Otak and an inspiration to his colleagues.

Real World Applications: Monroe Ave Stormwater Infiltration Facility for the City of Renton

Charles’ passion for sustainable development and his accreditation complement each other, fostering innovation and environmentally responsible practices. This can be seen firsthand on the Monroe Ave Stormwater Infiltration Facility Project for the City of Renton – a remarkable $15-20 million endeavor set for construction in late 2023.

Through an improved stormwater conveyance system utilizing multiple stage stormwater treatment prior to full infiltration of stormwater runoff from the contributing 250-acre basin, the project showcases his dedication to creating sustainable solutions that positively impact the community, and it’s a testament to Charles’s ingenuity and his ability to implement environmentally friendly strategies without compromising on quality.

Take a closer look at the project here, courtesy of the City of Renton, to learn more!

As we look to the future, Charles Dewey’s expertise and dedication will undoubtedly continue to drive positive change within Otak and beyond. His work stands as a testament to the power of sustainability and innovation in shaping a better world for all. We’re proud to have Charles as part of our team and can’t wait to see what incredible projects he’ll contribute to next!

South Beaver Creek Natural Area Restoration

As part of an effort by regional government Metro to identify and acquire parcels of land that present opportunities to protect and restore ecologically significant greenspaces, this natural area along Beaver Creek in the east suburbs of Portland, Oregon is enhanced to benefit local ecology and the surrounding community. In leading the restoration design, Otak took a unique approach using a 2D no-rise analysis and helicopter placement of large wood that aimed to provide new habitat and return the watershed to a more naturally functioning state.

Adding Channel-Spanning, Large Log Root Wads to Restore a Stream’s Floodplain

Flowing directly into the Sandy River – a tributary to the Columbia River – Beaver Creek provides important habitat for salmonids, including endangered Coho Salmon, as well as lamprey. This site contains two crossings where small culverts historically didn’t allow the transport of large wood and sediment into the reach that would naturally occur, limiting in-stream habitat conditions for rearing juvenile salmonids and the ability of Beaver Creek to fully express itself in the watershed. Following the replacement of those culverts, this project was designed to jump start the habitat creation process and provide immediate refugia for salmonids. The project also removed a mid-reach fish barrier – an abandoned concrete flashboard weir – that yielded shallow sheet flow conditions during summer months and high velocity flow in the winter, both challenging situations for fish. Using multiple channel-spanning large wood structures provides opportunities for beaver to add dams, the creation of scoured pools for salmonid habitat, and an overall more complex system where new channels can form and potentially reactivate old flood paths. In support of the floodplain permitting process, 2D hydraulic modeling helped ensure an understanding of site parameters and identify wood placement locations, while also making the permitting process feasible.

Adam’s County Veteran’s Memorial Ribbon Cutting: A Unique Event Unveils a Unique Structure

On Memorial Day, politicians, project stakeholders, veterans, and a community came together to dedicate the unique structure and honor servicemembers.

Exactly 100 years after the USS Colorado first set sail in service, it was officially reenlisted as part of the Adams County Veteran’s Memorial in Brighton, Colorado, but this time as a quarter scale replica. The unique structure based on the vessel is part of broader improvements to Riverdale Regional Park and its much-anticipated Memorial Day dedication drew a large response from the community.

Personal Connections, Family Ties, and A Memorial Day to Remember

Turnout for the event included Adams County Commissioners, Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, and Ken Jones, a U.S. Navy Veteran who actually served on the USS Colorado during World War II. Fellow veterans as well as active service members and the community at large rounded out the large crowd in attendance for the event that included a flyover of F16 jets.

““The veterans memorial stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment of our community, a labor of love that has brought us together… From the initial stages of fundraising to the meticulous planning and construction, our journey has been one of collaboration and dedication.”

Charles “Chaz” Tedesco, Adams County Commissioner

Project stakeholders were also present, including members of the Otak structural team, Dan Beltzer and Jim Quigley. “It’s excellent to design a completely unique feature for all to enjoy,” said Beltzer.

The structure was so unique in fact that they had a hard time finding other replicas that had been done similarly. “I think for most people it’s safe to say this would be their first battleship replica they’ve worked on,” said Quigley. For one source of inspiration, a contractor for the project just so happened to be spending time at Pearl Harbor where they paid special attention to the detail of the ships stationed there.

In addition to his professional pride in making the memorial a reality, Jim also found a personal connection at the event.

“My grandfather was in the army during WWII and my mom has two brothers [in the service] as well as cousins and in-laws. So, it was really cool to work on something that honors what they’ve done,” said Quigley who also brought his son along. “The flyover was really neat and my uncle flew an F16 so it was great for my son to see how his family has been involved first hand.”

Now officially open to the public, the Memorial also includes monuments for each branch of the military, plaques featuring significant quotes, and a wall dedicated to telling the story of a soldier. Along with the replica ship is also a replica of its bell, made by the same foundry that made the current USS Colorado (an active-duty submarine) to be used at ceremonies.

Because of its importance to the community, the project team worked closely with the Adams County Veteran’s Advisory Board and County staff to ensure public input was incorporated into the design.

As part of the larger park, the Adam’s County Veteran’s Memorial is also surrounded by a variety of other public amenities. An amphitheater will be added later this year as well so the park can host even more events in the future.

Take a closer look at the Adams County Veteran’s Memorial project and learn more about the inspiration behind this unique structure and public asset.

Columbia Bottomlands Restoration

The restoration of 88-acres of wetland on the Columbia River near Scappoose is aimed at reversing the impacts of agricultural activity. Hydrologic and hydraulic analysis would inform the restoration of habitat for endangered salmonids, as well as the creation of a wetland mitigation site. In leading the design, geomorphology, and surveying, the Otak team also provided support on coordination with landowners and other key stakeholders.

A Habitat Restoration Design to Improve Wetlands and Fish Conditions

Despite site accessibility limitations for surface and groundwater monitoring, by using modified schedules during low tide the team kept monitoring on track while informing the restoration design. In accounting for these limitations, drone surveying was utilized to capture water level change over time across the expansive floodplain area. The effort includes a complex hydrologic regime caused by riverine tributaries like Scappoose Creek and Teal Creek, including tidal backwater conditions and flood flows from the Columbia River. With the potential to support juvenile rearing and adult off-channel refugia, the design would also restore habitat for 13 different populations of salmon and steelhead. Many regulatory agencies – including the Oregon Department of State Lands, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state and federal fish/wildlife agencies – as well as local jurisdictions required approval of the final design.

Stringtown Road Bridge

To improve traffic safety and stream functionality, a replacement bridge on NW Stringtown Road was added at the crossing of Prickett Creek in Washington County, Oregon. In leading the design and delivery of the new structure, a multidisciplinary Otak approach paid special attention to the impacts on adjacent properties, where transportation elements required more space than the existing, outdated treatments.

A Replacement Structure to Improve Transportation Elements and Stream Design

An existing timber bridge on NW Stringtown Road was found to be structurally deficient, prompting Washington County to make plans for its replacement. The new structure includes a wider box culvert with a natural bottom, improving the stream channel of Pricket Creek. With a superelevated roadway, design elements for the bridge also include road widening, guardrail design, and the reconstruction of existing driveways. Close coordination with property owners made space for these updated roadway features while a joint permit application process led to approval for the widened culvert.

Sandalwood Swale

In developing a comprehensive solution to the water quality impacts of the Tualatin Moving Forward bond program, the Sandalwood Swale – along with two smaller sites – provides water quality mitigation for all 36 projects associated with the program. Stormwater facility analysis and design for this regional water quality facility was provided by Otak, including conceptual stormwater facility layout and construction cost estimates.

A Bond Program’s Regional Approach to Water Quality Mitigation

As part of the city’s stormwater master plan, the Sandalwood Swale takes a regional approach to water quality mitigation for a number of transportation and pedestrian-focused improvements involving impervious surfaces. With 11.6 acres required by Clean Water Services design to be covered, the swale exceeds that requirement, providing water quality treatment for 19.49 acres of impervious area. The facility itself is a vegetated swale with native plants selected specifically for the area’s environmental conditions that cover its 12-foot-wide bottom and 189-foot length. With multiple parcels coming into the facility, the regional approach is more cost-effective and requires less maintenance than several smaller facilities would offer, while a water quality manhole added upstream is designed to further reduce maintenance. In a location where the community often reported the impacts of flooding, the improved grated inlet is also designed to better collect debris from storm runoff and eliminate flooding issues in the area.

Conference Roundup: Forging Relationships During Spring Conference Season!

We’re officially rounding out the end of Spring conference season in Oregon, where we’ve continued to form lasting partnerships, meet the clients we serve, and showcase what we’re about. We love the opportunities conferences give us to support and connect with organizations rooted in the communities we call home.

OAME and APWA Oregon, the two most recent conferences we attended, are organizations we have a long history of partnering with. Read on to find out more about each conference and hear the why behind what makes each of them so special!

OAME Conference

The 35th Annual Trade Show hosted by the all-inclusive organization, Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME) provided us with the opportunity to exchange ideas, talk to fellow partners and potential clients, and most importantly support the growth of minority-owned businesses.

We value having a presence at this conference, because enables us to show up directly for minority-run businesses and forge lasting partnerships – from prospective clients to new friends in the industry.

Complete with a booth and Otakians from engineering, architecture, marketing in full attendance, we got the chance to bring who we are to the table: a firm that listens to our communities and their local businesses and uses those connections to improve the project work we do daily.

APWA OR Conference

The American Public Works Association (APWA) is one of the most influential professional organizations in the public works field, dedicated to raising awareness about the vital role public works plays in the communities where we live. Fun fact, our own Ashley Cantlon, senior water resources engineer, is the Oregon chapter President – meaning we have a deep appreciation for our relationship with the organization.

Similarly to the OAME conference, this event allows us to be involved in one of the premier organizations for public works in the state, enabling better connections, better relationships, and better understanding of best practices and industry trends.

With a strong presence from Otak engineering leaders like Kevin Timmins, Amanda Owings, Henry Alaman, and Trista Kobluskie, we spoke with potential clients, new friends, and learned more about how we can enrich neighborhoods through the power of quality design. To mix things up a bit, we brought along a special APWA OR picture frame to encourage some photo opts!

Thank you to both these organizations for hosting us, and we can’t wait to come back next year!

North Creek Trail

Including five boardwalks, a bridge, and 20 retaining walls, North Creek Trail extends 2.5 miles outside Bothell, Washington to traverse sensitive wetlands and a canyon that holds North Creek itself. In leading the project, Otak provided trail and roadway, stormwater, and structural design as well as construction support services for the first phase of construction as the design of phases two and three were completed. That effort included review and responses to RFIs and close coordination with the County project manager and construction inspection staff.

An Urban Trail and Structural Design to Minimize Impact to Sensitive Wetlands

This urban trail segment connects an existing segment near SR 524 with North Creek Park. To minimize environmental impacts and simplify permitting, micropiles support the boardwalks that carry the regional trail over sensitive areas. A 1,383-foot, 14-span prestressed concrete girder bridge crosses the canyon where North Creek runs, including 800 feet of surrounding wetlands. In accommodating ADA grades along the crossing, several portions of the bridge are 30 to 40 feet in the air. Because of the difficulty and sensitivity of constructing a long bridge through the wetlands, a detailed alternative analysis was performed evaluating varying span lengths, foundation types, construction methodologies, access, along with pier and superstructure types. The pedestrian bridge over North Creek would be constructed as part of phase three.

APWA Project of the Year: 180th Street Corridor Improvements

Otak is excited to announce that our work on 180th Street SE Improvements for Snohomish County just won Project of the Year at the APWA Washington’s annual Spring conference in the $5 million – $25 million Transportation category!

Read on as we take a deep dive into what this award means, and why we’re so grateful to be recognized among many other deserving winners from across Washington state.

What’s the Project?

The impact of improvements to the 180th Street corridor makes the area safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and critical habitats in the surrounding natural environment.

The unincorporated area between the cities of Mill Creek and Bothell is one of the fastest growing in all of Snohomish County. The east/west 180th St SE corridor runs through the heart of the community, and along with the north/south corridors of State Route 527, 35th Ave SE, and Seattle Hill Rd, is one of the main routes for navigating the southwest area of Snohomish County.

With the steadily increasing population and plans for additional transit options coming to the area, improvements to the arterial transportation system are a top priority for Snohomish County.

Otak partnered with Snohomish County Public Works to deliver transportation, structural, and environmental services for the project’s Phase I improvements, and we’re beyond proud of the final result.

What’s the APWA?

The American Public Works Association is an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies, and individuals dedicated to providing high quality public works goods and services. Originally chartered in 1937, APWA is the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world, with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, an office in Washington, D.C., and 67 chapters throughout North America. APWA provides a forum in which public works professionals can exchange ideas, improve professional competency, increase the performance of their agencies and companies, and bring important public works-related topics to public attention in local, state and federal arenas.

The Washington Chapter’s 1,400 (+/-) members come from the entire state of Washington. The Chapter as a whole meets twice a year at spring (Western Washington) and fall (Eastern Washington) conferences and there are several other formal and informal annual events throughout the year.

We’d like to formally thank APWA Washington for bestowing this award on such a deserving and community-driven project. Stay tuned for more conference and award news as this season gets into full swing. We can’t wait to connect with more of our partners and clients at future events, and maybe win some more awards along the way!